Navigating your career: Have you checked your coordinates lately?

On the morning of November 28, 1979, as Captain Jim Collins and First Officer Greg Cassin prepared for takeoff, they entered the latitudes and longitudes into their flight's navigation system, which would enable the aircraft to fly automatically to its destination.

In 1977, Air New Zealand started operating scenic flights over Antarctica, in their latest McDonnell Douglas DC-10 aircraft. What better way to spend a day than to cruise on an 11-hour non-stop round trip from Auckland down the length of the country and on to the great southern continent? The flights were popular and regularly sold out.

However, earlier that morning, a navigation center employee had fractionally changed the coordinates, resulting in a 2-degree error, a fact unknown to both pilots. Most people would think it was a minor adjustment, but that 2-degree error put the plane’s flight path around 30 miles (50 km) east of the regular route.

As the pilots approached what they thought was their intended destination, they descended to a lower altitude to give the sightseers a better look at the beautiful landscapes. Unfortunately, the incorrect coordinates had placed them directly in the path of Mount Erebus, an active volcano 12,450 feet (3,800 meters) high. The plane crashed into the side of the volcano, killing all passengers and crew on board. 

It is hard to imagine how this major catastrophe was caused by a minor error of only a few degrees, but let’s understand how much difference it makes if you’re off course by just one degree. In a rocket going to the moon, a one-degree error means you would be 4,169 miles off (nearly twice the moon's diameter).  Going to the sun, you would miss by over 1.6 million miles (roughly twice the sun's diameter). 

If you have read this far, you may be wondering why I am talking about all this.

As professionals, especially those in their mid-careers, we often get consumed by work-related deliverables, deadlines, and personal commitments. We do not take the time to pause and review whether the path we are headed to will take us to our desired destination. Without wilful intent and timely, meaningful action, we often slip into autopilot and stray off-course to somewhere we hadn’t planned for or intended to.

If you are a mid-career professional like me, chances are you have experienced similar emotions at some point in your career. So, if you are feeling stuck or lost in your journey, here are the Top-3 actions you could take right now:

1. Check your coordinates:

Start with an audit of where you are right now in your career, just like you would do for your finances or health. What are the things you should amplify, and what should you eliminate? Are you headed towards your goals and destination? If you're not, you may need to fix your coordinates or reconsider your destination altogether. Whatever course correction is needed, go ahead and do it.

2. Ask an expert:

Sir Isaac Newton once said, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” The greatest achievers in every field have mentors and coaches, even when they have reached the pinnacle of success. Look around for experts who have been there and done that. If you do not have a coach yet, I strongly suggest getting one. It will be the best investment you ever make. Remember, even the song ‘Y.M.C.A.’ says, “No man does it all by himself.”

3. Build your Network:

A powerful network can be the greatest tool in your arsenal, whether you’re seeking career guidance, looking for a job switch, or simply wanting to become a better version of yourself. Explore every opportunity you can come across, be it at work, industry connects, volunteering opportunities, or common interest groups, and start building those meaningful connections. Remember, “Your network is your net worth.”

Not very long ago, I was faced with the same dilemma and used this three-step approach to get on track with my aspirations and purpose. With my coordinates in place, I’m building a robust network, even on weekends, whether I am attending an industry event, collaborating with an interest group or professional body, or simply participating in a quiz.

While I have only started, I have been making steady progress by asking tough questions I avoided for a long time and taking deliberate action under the able guidance of a seasoned mentor and a supportive cohort of like-minded individuals.

On today’s auspicious occasion of Guru Purnima, I would like to take this opportunity to express my deepest respect and gratitude not only to my teachers but also to my mentors, Mudit Saxena, Tony Birch, Abhijit Majumdar, Navyug Mohnot, and many others whose wisdom, guidance and mentorship I have been fortunate to receive and continue to benefit from. Thank you once again for everything!